Cocoa Beach has significantly altered its regulations for short-term vacation rentals, introducing new annual fees that vary based on occupancy and extending coverage to include condominiums and other multifamily properties. This move aims to bolster enforcement and address community concerns regarding the proliferation of such rentals.
New Fee Structure and Scope Expansion
The Cocoa Beach City Commission recently approved a unanimous measure that restructures the fees for short-term rental operators. Previously, only single-family homes were subject to the city’s regulations. The updated ordinance now encompasses condos and multifamily residential properties, reflecting the growing presence of the short-term rental industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Short-term rental regulations now include condos and multifamily properties.
- Annual fees are now calculated based on the number of expected guests.
- Fees for multifamily properties are lower than those for single-family homes.
The annual registration fees have been adjusted to reflect occupancy. For single-family rentals, the fee is now $219.45 per guest annually. For multifamily properties, the fee is set at $146.30 per guest annually. These adjustments aim to provide a more equitable fee structure while generating revenue for enforcement.
Increased Fines for Non-Compliance
In addition to the registration costs, the city has implemented new fines for operators who fail to comply with the regulations. Anyone operating a vacation rental without proper registration will face a $250 fine for the first day, escalating to $500 for each subsequent day. After the sixth day of non-compliance, the daily fine increases to $1,000.
Debate and Resident Concerns
The fee increases have sparked debate among property owners and residents. Some, like property owner Lisa Bosch, have expressed concerns about the financial impact of the new fees, questioning their legal supportability and potential to burden smaller property owners. Mayor Keith Capizzi, however, suggested that the impact on compliant operators would be minimal, stating that the changes are primarily aimed at ensuring proper registration and enforcement.
Previously, the city had faced backlash for dramatically raising fees for single-family homes to $2,500 for application and $1,500 annually. The revised structure, while still representing a significant increase from earlier fees, aims to be more adaptable to different property types and occupancy levels. The city hopes that the revenue generated will allow for increased staffing to manage and enforce short-term rental rules, addressing an estimated annual cost of over $700,000 attributed to unregulated rentals.